AI technology has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and one of its main implementations is internet search engines. From correcting misspelled words to predicting what a user wants to search for, AI has made searching the web so much easier.

Google is the leader when it comes to the sheer volume of search queries that it handles. Naturally, it has implemented an AI-based algorithm that helps improve your search experience. Exactly how does AI do this? Read on to find out.

What Is BERT, and How Does It Help Google Understand Your Searches?

When it comes to conversations and language, humans are far better at understanding context than AI. Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) is Google's attempt at bridging this gap.

Essentially, the BERT model uses a neural network to understand user queries and their context better. Google made BERT an open-source technology, which means that anyone can employ this technology to create their own question-answering system.

The BERT model considers all other words in a sentence when processing it instead of processing each word one by one. Words like "to" and "for" are better understood by the system. This dramatically improves the search experience of users, as the search query is understood in a more "human" manner.

Basically, you can search more conversationally and naturally instead of having to resort to using keywords to get the most relevant results.

Google's Spell Check Uses AI

A feature that we often take for granted, Google's Spell Check, uses AI to correct your spellings automatically. In turn, this helps the search engine to display better results.

To implement this feature, Google uses something called an artificial neural network. This is basically a network of interconnected nodes, similar to how the neurons and synapses in our brain function.

Related: The Best Ways to Spell Check in Google Chrome

Using AI and this neural net, Google can detect and correct any misspellings you type. While it may not be 100% accurate, it is in a much better state than it was when it initially launched. In fact, upon close observation, you will realize that this spell check can determine the context behind your misspelled search queries as well.

Google search.
Spell check when you search for "specially odored flowers."

For example, if you were to search for "specially odored flowers," Google would not change anything in the search query because odor is something you associate with flowers. However, if you were to search for "specially odored doors," Google will recognize that odor is not something you would talk about in the context of doors, so it will automatically correct it to "ordered."

Google spell checks odored doors.

Google Maps And AI

Google Maps is the most widely used navigation service today, and many of its features use AI. From providing real-time traffic updates to features such as Live View, all of them are dependent on AI-based algorithms. Google Maps even allows you to track your friends using their real-time location.

Among these, one of the most useful features is the busyness feature. Whenever you search for a place on Google Maps, for example, a local café, it provides you with information on how busy the place is in real-time. More often than not, these stats are accurate because Google uses its AI-based algorithm and Location History data to get these insights.

The Live Busyness feature in Google Maps.

Google Maps AI integration has been especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic because most people are looking to avoid crowds, even though things are gradually returning to normalcy.

What's more, the newer features of Google Maps, such as Live View, use AI to help you accurately navigate indoor areas like malls, airports, and railway stations. Without AI, it wouldn't be possible to scan the billions of Street View images required to implement this feature.

AI and Deep Learning Gives You More Information About Images

One of the most used features of Google search is the images section. Whatever your search query may be, you can easily find a related image by clicking on the images section of the search results.

Related: Vital Google Image Search Tips and Tricks to Know

Using AI and deep learning, Google Images displays relevant information about the image. For example, if you search for a picnic spot near your location, an image with a pond or greenery may pop up. Upon clicking on that image, Google will automatically display relevant info about the image, such as which pond it is and where it is located.

Google might even go on to display more related information to make your search experience better. All of this is possible because of AI.

Google Lens is Powered by AI

Google Lens is one of the most useful Google apps available as it lets you point your camera and recognize objects as well as do loads of other things. The plethora of features that the app offers, including translation, text selection, and similar objects, work because of the implementation of AI, to put it simply.

Google Lens can prove especially useful when shopping. If you like a particular piece of clothing or an accessory, simply open Google Lens and point your camera at it. Using Google's huge database of information, the app will display similar items in color, texture, and style to the one you just clicked.

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Additionally, using AI, Google Lens also lets you copy handwritten text to your phone's clipboard or even paste it directly on your computer.

Related: Hidden Google Photos Search Tools You May Have Missed

Many features of the Google Photos app are also powered by AI. Whether it is creating 3D cinematic versions of your photos or the Memories feature. The app also allows you to search for pictures with specific people using the AI-powered face detection function.

Making Your Searches Better

As is evident from the sections above, AI plays a huge role in improving Google's search experience. But even with the rapid development of this technology, search queries are still misunderstood.